Zener transistor controlled LED array

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to an electronic control circuit and means to provide balanced power to a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) connected in arrays for improved efficiency, luminosity and power management. The present disclosure further relates to the use of an improved multiple transistor-based electronic control circuit offering significant improvement in regulating voltage and current flow to a plurality of LEDs connected together in various combinations of serial blocks and parallel blocks. The present disclosure further relates to the use of a Zener diode that offers significant improvement in regulating the luminosity of a plurality of LEDs connected together in various combinations of serial blocks and parallel blocks, wherein the LED blocks contain an arrangement of an even number of LEDs, an odd number of LEDs, as well as even and odd numbers of blocks combined in serial and parallel arrangement, and combinations thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronically configured control circuit for controlling the dimming and lighting of an associated light emitting diode in a luminaire, comprising:
 (a) a control circuit;   (b) a direct current (DC) power source providing a high potential positive voltage pole (V+) and a low potential negative ground voltage pole (V−);   (c) a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED);   wherein at least one high potential node of said control circuit is electrically coupled to the positive voltage pole (V+) of said DC power supply;   wherein at least one low potential node of said control circuit is electrically coupled to the negative voltage pole (ground) of said DC power supply;   wherein the high potential node of said control circuit is electrically coupled to V+ and at least one high potential node of at least one LED;   wherein a first emitter of a first transistor (Q 1 ) is electronically coupled to said low potential node of said control circuit and coupled to a second collector of a second transistor (Q 2 );   wherein a first collector of said Q 1  is electronically coupled to a second base of said Q 2 ;   wherein a second emitter of said Q 2  is electronically coupled to a low potential node of a first resistor (R 1 );   wherein a first base of said Q 1  is electronically coupled to a high potential node of said R 2 , a high potential node of a second resistor (R 2 ), a low potential node of a third resistor (R 3 ) and a low potential node of a fifth resistor (R 5 );   wherein a low potential node of the second resistor (R 2 ) is electronically coupled to said low potential node of said control circuit;   wherein a high potential node of said R 5  is electronically coupled to a low potential node of a Zener diode (Z 1 );   wherein a high potential node of said Z 1  is electronically coupled to a high potential node of said R 3 , a low potential node of a sixth resistor (R 6 ) and a high potential node of a seventh resistor (R 7 );   wherein a high potential node of said R 1  is electronically coupled to a low potential node of said R 7 ;   wherein the high potential node of both said R 3  and said R 7  are electronically coupled to the low potential node of said R 6 ;   wherein a high potential node of said R 6  is electronically coupled to a low potential node of said R 4 ; and   wherein a high potential node of said R 4  is electronically coupled to a positive side of the DC power source.   
     
     
         2 . The control circuit of  claim 1 , wherein a second Zener diode is present in the control circuit and electronically coupled to said first Zener diode; and
 wherein at least one low potential node, one high potential node, and combinations thereof of said first and said second Zener diodes are electronically coupled.   
     
     
         3 . The control circuit of  claim 2 , wherein said second Zener diode is electrically connected in series, in parallel, stacked with all common nodes electronically coupled, and combinations thereof; and
 wherein at least one of the nodes of said second Zener diode is electronically coupled to at least one node of said first Zener diode.   
     
     
         4 . The control circuit of  claim 1 , wherein said control circuit contains one or more additional resistive elements electronically coupled to any one or more of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh resistor in an electrically serial, parallel, or mixed serial and parallel configuration, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . An electronically configured control circuit for controlling the dimming and lighting of an associated light emitting diode in a luminaire, comprising:
 (a) a control circuit;   (b) a direct current (DC) power source providing a high potential positive voltage pole (V+) and a low potential negative ground voltage pole (V−);   (c) a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED);   wherein at least one high potential node of said control circuit is electrically coupled to the positive voltage pole (V+) of said DC power source;   wherein at least one low potential node of said control circuit is electrically coupled to the negative voltage pole (ground) of said DC power source;   wherein the high potential node of said control circuit is electrically coupled to V+ and at least one high potential node of at least one LED;   wherein a first transistor (Q 1 ) has a first collector that is electronically coupled to a second base of a second transistor (Q 2 );   wherein a first emitter of Q 1  is electronically coupled to ground;   wherein a first base of Q 1  is electronically coupled to a high potential node of a first resistor (R 1 );   wherein a low potential node of R 1  is electronically coupled to ground;   wherein the first base of Q 1  is electronically coupled to the high potential nodes of a second resistor (R 2 );   wherein a second collector of Q 2  is electronically coupled to ground;   wherein a second emitter of Q 2  is electronically coupled to a low potential node of a third resistor (R 3 );   wherein a high potential node of R 3  is connected to a low potential node of a fourth resistor R 4 ;   wherein a low potential node of R 4  is electronically coupled to ground;   wherein a high potential node of R 4  is connected to V+;   wherein a high potential node of a fifth resistor (R 5 ) is connected to V+;   wherein a low potential node of R 5  is connected to the high potential note of R 1 ;   wherein a low potential node of a sixth resistor (R 6 ) is electronically coupled to the high potential node of R 2 ;   wherein a high potential node of R 6  is electronically coupled to a first anode of a first Zener diode Z 1 ; and   wherein a first cathode of Z 1  is connected to V+.   
     
     
         6 . The control circuit of  claim 5 , wherein a second Zener diode is present in the control circuit and electronically coupled to said first Zener diode; and
 wherein at least one low potential node, one high potential node, and combinations thereof of said first and said second Zener diodes are electronically coupled.   
     
     
         7 . The control circuit of  claim 6 , wherein said second Zener diode is electrically connected in series, in parallel, stacked with all common nodes electronically coupled, and combinations thereof, and
 wherein at least one of the nodes of said second Zener diode is electronically coupled to at least one node of said first Zener diode.   
     
     
         8 . The control circuit of  claim 5 ,
 wherein said control circuit contains one or more additional resistive elements electronically coupled to any one or more of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh resistor in an electrically serial, parallel, or mixed serial and parallel configuration, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         9 . An electronically configured control circuit for controlling the dimming and lighting of an associated light emitting diode in a luminaire, comprising:
 (a) an electronic control circuit;   (b) a high potential positive voltage pole (V+) and a low potential negative voltage pole (V−);   wherein at least one low potential node of said electronic control circuit is electrically coupled to the negative voltage pole (ground);   wherein a highest potential node of said electronic control circuit is electrically coupled to the positive voltage pole V+;   wherein a first transistor (Q 1 ) has a first collector that is electronically coupled to a second base of a second transistor (Q 2 );   wherein a first emitter of Q 1  is electronically coupled to ground;   wherein a first base of Q 1  is electronically coupled to a high potential node of a first resistor (R 1 );   wherein a low potential node of RI is electronically coupled to ground;   wherein the first base of Q 1  is electronically coupled to a high potential nodes of a second transistor (R 2 );   wherein a second collector of Q 2  is electronically coupled to ground;   wherein a second emitter of Q 2  is electronically coupled to a low potential node of a third resistor (R 3 );   wherein a high potential node of R 3  is connected to a low potential node of a fourth transistor R 4 ;   wherein the low potential node of R 4  is electronically coupled to ground;   wherein a high potential node of R 4  is connected to V+;   wherein a high potential node of a fifth resistor (R 5 ) is connected to V+;   wherein a low potential node of R 5  is connected to the high potential note of R 1 ;   wherein a low potential node of a sixth resistor (R 6 ) is electronically coupled to the high potential node of R 2 ;   wherein a high potential node of R 6  is electronically coupled to a first anode of a first Zener diode Z 1 ; and   wherein a first cathode of Z 1  is connected to V+.